A US Homeland Security contractor warns its systems have been breached in what it suspects was a “state-sponsored” attack

A contractor for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revealed that it has fallen victim to a serious cyberattack, and warned that the breach “has all the markings of a state-sponsored attack.”

State Sponsored

The latest attack took place on the corporate network belonging to US Investigations Services (USIS), the largest provider of background investigations to the American government.

“Our internal IT security team recently identified an apparent external cyber-attack on USIS’ corporate network,” explaied the company. “We immediately informed federal law enforcement, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and other relevant federal agencies. We are working closely with federal law enforcement authorities and have retained an independent computer forensics investigations firm to determine the precise nature and extent of any unlawful entry into our network. Experts who have reviewed the facts gathered to-date believe it has all the markings of a state-sponsored attack.”

“Cybercrime and attacks of this nature have become an epidemic that impacts businesses, government agencies, and financial and educational institutions alike,” said Falls Church, a spokesman for Virginia-based USIS. “The protection and safeguarding of our networks, our data and the data of our customers is always of the utmost importance, and we have invested heavily in security measures.”

“Given the involvement of law enforcement and the active nature of this investigation, we cannot provide any additional information at this time,” the company said.

It is not clear at this stage what information the hackers were able to obtain, but the Washington Post reported it likely involved the theft of personal information about DHS employees. The US government has reportedly suspended much of its work with USIS, whilst the FBI investigates the matter.

USIS has been criticised recently in the US Congress because of its background checks on National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden and on Aaron Alexis, the military contractor who killed 12 people during shootings at the Navy Yard in September 2013.

Toxic Relationship

This latest attack comes amid a deteriorating relationship between the US and China over the matters of cyber security.

The collapse in co-operation was blamed on the fact that the US had filed hacking charges against Chinese army personnel. In late May, the US had filed indictments against five members of Unit 61398 of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).